Sample Itinerary forOaxaca
EASY (click to see rating scale)
Day 1: Meet your Travel Companions!
Relax and unwind over an early dinner before resting up for our week of adventure.
Day 2: Zapotec Culture and Handicrafts
After breakfast we will embark on a guided visit to the archaeological site of Monte Albán, the capital of the ancient Zapotec civilization. Following the visit to the Zapotec ruins, we will attend an alebrije workshop where we will see how the colorful, mythical creatures that are so important to Mexican folk art are created. We will conclude our post-lunch activities with a stroll through San Bartolo Coyotepec where we will peruse the countless pieces of pottery made from ‘barro negro’, or ‘black clay’ that is unique to the area.
Day 3: Gastronomy and Culture
The day will begin with a rural cooking workshop by local women from the city where we will learn to make a signature Oaxacan dish. In the afternoon, adults will partake in a presentation of the history and production of Mezcal following an optional taste test, while students tour the Philately Museum, a charming property with beautiful courtyards and pools that boasts unique correspondence and stamps from all over the world.
Day 4: En Via Experience
Today, we visit Fundación En Vía, a non-profit organization that works to empower women to better support themselves and their families. They use funds generated through responsible tourism to provide interest-free loans and educational programs to entrepreneurial women in 5 communities in the Tlacolula Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico. GCAC is a proud monthly supporter of En Via and we love to visit them anytime we are in the area.
Day 5: Teotitlán del Valle
In Teotitlán del Valle, we engage with a community known for its textiles and cultural traditions. We’ll also assist a traditional cook in creating a mural on the facade of her home to promote her cuisine and workshops and then join her for lunch.
Day 6: Nature and Tradition
The day will kick off with an exciting excursion to Hierve el Agua, a beautiful nature preserve that displays set of natural travertine rock formations that resemble cascades of water. After visiting the nature preserve, we will visit Mitla, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Zapotec culture. We will wrap up our day with a visit to Yaguar Xoo rescue center, which houses jaguars rescued from homes or circuses in order to rehabilitate them and reintroduce them to the wild.
Day 7: Return Home
Early transport to the airport in Oaxaca where we will bid farewell to this magical place before heading back home.
UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Goal 8: Decent Work & Economic Growth
We’ll spend a day with Fundación En Vía, a non-profit organization that works to empower women to better support themselves and their families through entrepreneurship.
Goal 15: Life on Land
Goal 15 aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. We will specifically target 15.7, which focuses on taking urgent action to end the poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna. Our program will visit Yaguar Xoo rescue center, which houses jaguars rescued from homes or circuses in order to rehabilitate them and reintroduce them to the wild.
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
- Conservation: Learning about the natural geological features of Oaxaca such as those at Hierve de Agua will help you to put into perspective the climate, biome, and ecosystems present in the area. By visiting Yaguar Xoo, you will learn about the challenges facing Oaxaca’s jaguar populations, and the work being done to conserve, restore, and rehabilitate them.
- Culinary Arts: Participate in a cooking class and learn about traditional Oaxaca dishes, and learn about how the ingredients are grown, sourced, and distributed locally. Also learn about Mezcal, a major Oaxacan export and the process of how it’s made from agave to finished product.
- Visual & Theater Arts: Visit local museums and galleries, as well as learn about alebrijes, ‘black clay’ pottery, and handcrafted textiles made by local artisans.
- World History: Explore the history of Zapotec culture with visits to major archeological sites such as Mitla and Monte Alban.
